Eating in front of tv.. how to stop

[rhgs]

We have one dc. Both work. We have slipped into a bad habit where dc eats his meals in front of the tv, in the morning as we are getting ready ( I don't eat breakfast and dh grabs something at work) and in the evening because we eat later when he is in bed. We do eat together on weekends but he is reluctant to sit at our dining room table on his own in the week understandably or even with us now as he enjoys watching his tv programmes.Since lockdown we have been working from home and I want to try and break this cycle but he won't come and sit with me for breakfast or lunch. He says he prefers having his lunch in front of the tv! We are spending lots of time together all day and other than at these times talk and play and try and home school etc but Im worried about this long term. What do you do with your onlies, do you all eat together? How can I change this?

3 year olds are not famous for their self-control

and as I said, it's up to the adult to parent the child and regulate the amount of food on the plate until children develop self control!!

The world didn't get significantly fatter in the last 50 years because of a sudden loss of self-control.

Overfilling you're plate is lack of self control. If you don't overfill your plate, you can't over eat when you get distracted by the tv. It's not rocket science.

and before everyone piles on me, I'm in no way saying people are overweight due to no self control, I know there are a myriad of reasons why people are overweight.

I'm only referring to the specific example given of being distracted by TV resulting in "accidentally overeating".

I wouldn't worry about it. It's very normal. You can still have joint meals together at the table at weekends.

Its "normal" for a child to be eating most their meals in front of the tv amd not eat with family? Not in my experience.

@FrangipaniBlue it's not about overfilling a 3 year old's plate (although other evidence shows that people have poor ability to accurately assess portion size). It's about mindless eating which has been proven to trigger an "I'm hungry" wail from said toddler an hour later.

But if you're determined that it's all about self control and parenting skills so be it.

I don't think it's 'normal' for a child to eat their meals alone in front of the tv either and the OP wants to do it differently anyway.

Just be tough, we have an only DC, he’s never eaten in front of the tv (but then neither do we). Ideally try and eat together but if you really can’t then at the very least sit at the table with your DS and have a cup of tea or coffee with him. And surely one of you can have breakfast with your DS, just get up 10 minutes earlier - surely that’s not relevant at the moment anyway?
And you don’t give your DS the ‘choice’ of where to eat ... just serve the meal at the table ... is it really that hard ?

@FrangipaniBlue
If it's bollocks...then why do all the experts say it's not bollocks????

FrangipaniBlue there is a proven link, so whether or not you agree with it, the link is there.

OP, I have dozens of meals that take 30 minutes or less to cook. Many of them very ordinary. Sausages and mash; pasta and sauce; stir fry; grilled fish and new potatoes; etc etc
Then add on those that can be done in advance and reheated
Then add on casseroles etc done in a slow cooker or in the oven on a timer
Then add on the meal you made last week, but made double and froze half

That gives you loads of meals which can be on the table for 6:45 or 7:00pm.

I would really really encourage a family dinner together. I have 3 teens and it is a non negotiable, and it is sometimes the only part of the day when we get a whole conversation out of our oldest. Over the last few weeks it has also been a great time for laughing together.
Family mealtimes worth it.

He will be fine eating half an hour later. If he is starving as he walks in the door, let him drink a glass of milk, takes the edge off the feeling of hunger but doesn't effect his appetite. Of a few carrot sticks to munch on while he is waiting.

As a side note, if he has TV on at breakfast lunch and dinner, that is a LOT of TV.
We have a rule (for school times) no TV before school, and then it doesn't go on until 5pm. That way they didn't have too much. Obviously in lockdown it is different, but still, we turn it off.

So what happens after lockdown ends? He sits at the table on his own?

I used to sit and have a cup of tea and a chat with my DC when they had their tea after school and catch up on all their news, or i'd do some meal prep in the kitchen and chat with them .
I think eating in front of the TV is a lazy habit and promotes overeating.